I don't read what most people consider to be "normal" books. I read books that most people would consider to be technical manuals, but what people in the field would consider to be bedtime stories for their kids. It drives my writing and linguistics major girlfriend crazy. Here is a list of the books I have read, in the order that I have read them from bottom to top.
Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea
When I read Napolean's Buttons, I learned that I did not have much of an appreciation for history. However after reading this book I am thoroughly confused because I found the history of this number fascinating. There was a time when people were held as heretics for believing in zero, and there were times when zero was believed to either prove or disprove the existence of God. The title of the book is to be taken literally, because zero was, and still is, a dangerous idea.
The book details how zero went from a rogue idea to skepticism to acceptance. Historically there has been much more resistance to zero than acceptance, and this continues to some extent even today. Although mathematicians and physicists were able to solve the problem of dividing by zero in calculus, zero still stands in the way of uniting quantum mechanics and relativity into a single Theory of Everything.
My favorite irony in the history of this dangerous idea which threatens to rip the fabric of spacetime is how its story has come full circle. Early civilizations rejected zero when they were not able to observe it (how do you observe zero?), but now we know that there has to be something in between 1 and -1. Recently, a group of physicists decided to abolish the concept of zero yet again and attempt to bind the theories of quantum mechanics and relativity; they are the string theorists. The reasons why string theorists may be able to succeed lies in their rejection of zero. Under the assumptions of string theory,a quantum mechanical particle such as an electron or a subatomic particle cannot be a point, but instead must be at least ~10^-35 m. Also in string theory, a black hole does not rip the fabric of spacetime, but simply reduces it to ~10^-35 m. Although these two concepts may seem like minor details because of the minuscule scale which we are referring to, a theory is incorrect if it fails at any point at any time, and zero is the biggest threat to the theories of both quantum mechanics and relativity.
*It should be noted that although string theory has many advantages and could potentially be the solution to the Theory of Everything, it is currently not able to be observed. It should also be noted that an observation at any time in the near future is highly unlikely.
The book details how zero went from a rogue idea to skepticism to acceptance. Historically there has been much more resistance to zero than acceptance, and this continues to some extent even today. Although mathematicians and physicists were able to solve the problem of dividing by zero in calculus, zero still stands in the way of uniting quantum mechanics and relativity into a single Theory of Everything.
My favorite irony in the history of this dangerous idea which threatens to rip the fabric of spacetime is how its story has come full circle. Early civilizations rejected zero when they were not able to observe it (how do you observe zero?), but now we know that there has to be something in between 1 and -1. Recently, a group of physicists decided to abolish the concept of zero yet again and attempt to bind the theories of quantum mechanics and relativity; they are the string theorists. The reasons why string theorists may be able to succeed lies in their rejection of zero. Under the assumptions of string theory,a quantum mechanical particle such as an electron or a subatomic particle cannot be a point, but instead must be at least ~10^-35 m. Also in string theory, a black hole does not rip the fabric of spacetime, but simply reduces it to ~10^-35 m. Although these two concepts may seem like minor details because of the minuscule scale which we are referring to, a theory is incorrect if it fails at any point at any time, and zero is the biggest threat to the theories of both quantum mechanics and relativity.
*It should be noted that although string theory has many advantages and could potentially be the solution to the Theory of Everything, it is currently not able to be observed. It should also be noted that an observation at any time in the near future is highly unlikely.
The Grand Design
This book was great, yet disappointing. Being honest, the disappointment had nothing to do with the book itself. The disappointment had to do with me naïvely believing that this book could delve into the deeper question of why rather than the boring old how. The authors did address this question multiple times, but only to conclude in saying that M-theory holds the answers to all of our questions, and the answer is not simply 42.
The reader does however get to see a lighter side of Stephen, a physicist who does what he does not because the money is good, and not because he feels a moral obligation, but because he enjoys it. He sees the oddities of the universe and is fascinated with them, he goes so far as to say that "homogeneity is good if you don't want cream separating out from your milk, but a uniform universe is a boring universe." The universe being inconsistent and strange is not seen as a bad thing, but rather as a captivating, mesmerizing fact. Through this, I see his motivation as being pure, which is truly admirable, respectable, and inspiring.
I loved this book, I just wish that I had not been expecting more than is possible to answer at the time. Science is currently trying to answer the whys, but is not quite there yet. All I can say is that I hope it hurries; to understand even one of the deeper, scientific questions of why would be an awe-inspiring feat.
The reader does however get to see a lighter side of Stephen, a physicist who does what he does not because the money is good, and not because he feels a moral obligation, but because he enjoys it. He sees the oddities of the universe and is fascinated with them, he goes so far as to say that "homogeneity is good if you don't want cream separating out from your milk, but a uniform universe is a boring universe." The universe being inconsistent and strange is not seen as a bad thing, but rather as a captivating, mesmerizing fact. Through this, I see his motivation as being pure, which is truly admirable, respectable, and inspiring.
I loved this book, I just wish that I had not been expecting more than is possible to answer at the time. Science is currently trying to answer the whys, but is not quite there yet. All I can say is that I hope it hurries; to understand even one of the deeper, scientific questions of why would be an awe-inspiring feat.
The Black Hole War: My Battle with Stephen Hawking to Make the World Safe for Quantum Mechanics
This is an excellent book. I would recommend it to anyone who is curious about how quantum mechanics, string theory, and relativity tie together. Extremely light on the equations, but still a very good qualitative assessment of how the world of the small directly impacts the world of the large.
Many physicists believed that quantum gravity was too small to have an impact on the giants in our universe. This book explains quite clearly why quantum mechanics and quantum gravity play a huge role in our world, no matter what the scale is. Oh, and the world that we know and love is actually a three dimensional hologram of a two dimensional world.
Many physicists believed that quantum gravity was too small to have an impact on the giants in our universe. This book explains quite clearly why quantum mechanics and quantum gravity play a huge role in our world, no matter what the scale is. Oh, and the world that we know and love is actually a three dimensional hologram of a two dimensional world.
What Einstein Told His Cook: Kitchen Science Explained
Nothing special here. Not bad, but not the greatest. Just a gathering of very nontechnical columns written by Robert Wolke that were published in the Washington Post.
Although the book does a good job of explaining certain aspects of kitchen science, it leaves many questions unanswered, which in turn, provokes more questions. A scientist who is familiar with the kitchen and has a good understanding of what is happening when they cook will be able to fill in these blanks left in the explanations provided.
All negativity aside, for the reader who does not have a technical background and who does not wish to delve deeper into the mysteries of science, this book will provide sufficient explanations of most kitchen phenomena.
Although the book does a good job of explaining certain aspects of kitchen science, it leaves many questions unanswered, which in turn, provokes more questions. A scientist who is familiar with the kitchen and has a good understanding of what is happening when they cook will be able to fill in these blanks left in the explanations provided.
All negativity aside, for the reader who does not have a technical background and who does not wish to delve deeper into the mysteries of science, this book will provide sufficient explanations of most kitchen phenomena.
Absolutely Small: How Quantum Theory Explains Our Everyday World
I must confess that I did not understand much of this book at the time that I read it. Now, knowing what I do, I can look back and honestly say that it was great. Even then, I enjoyed it and felt that it explained things very well, it's just hard to learn the subtleties of quantum theory without taking a rigorous class in it.
One of the things that I enjoyed most about this book was how it gave an overview of some of the multiple experiments that observed "absolutely small" particles acting in non-classical ways. The experiment which I found to be the most helpful in understanding the principles of quantum mechanics was not the double slit experiment, but the Michelson interferometer experiments. The reason I mention this is that this book included an outline of both these experiments whereas other books I have read only covered the double slit.
This book holds a special place in my heart because this was the book that inspired me to become a part of Brown Lab, a lab at Georgia Tech that focuses on quantum mechanics and computation.
One of the things that I enjoyed most about this book was how it gave an overview of some of the multiple experiments that observed "absolutely small" particles acting in non-classical ways. The experiment which I found to be the most helpful in understanding the principles of quantum mechanics was not the double slit experiment, but the Michelson interferometer experiments. The reason I mention this is that this book included an outline of both these experiments whereas other books I have read only covered the double slit.
This book holds a special place in my heart because this was the book that inspired me to become a part of Brown Lab, a lab at Georgia Tech that focuses on quantum mechanics and computation.
Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History
This book is thoroughly entertaining to those who enjoy history, and also enjoy chemistry; unfortunately I learned that I do not enjoy history all that much. The books introduces a molecule each chapter (some chapters actually introduce a class of molecules) and explains the role that the molecule, or the class of molecules played in history. The book then goes on to explain the chemistry behind why the compounds behaved in such a way that made them usable, and therefore important in the course of history.
Although the book covered a wide variety of compounds, the authors did well in explaining the chemistry, without watering it down too much. The book covers everything from the inorganic crystalline structure of table salt to the organic oleic acid found in olive oil.
Although the book covered a wide variety of compounds, the authors did well in explaining the chemistry, without watering it down too much. The book covers everything from the inorganic crystalline structure of table salt to the organic oleic acid found in olive oil.
